To C or Not to C?

The study has an important weakness that should be taken into account: it was an observational study, which cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has received widespread publicity for reporting that the use of vitamin C supplements was associated with an increased risk of developing cataracts. But don’t throw away your vitamin C bottle as the new study does not prove that C caused this effect, and that result is inconsistent with previous research that suggests vitamin C either has no effect on cataract incidence or even decreases risk.

Supplement Safety Myths & Facts

Use vitamins, minerals, and herbs with confidence

How do you make sense of supplements? With so much conflicting information in the news, it's hard to know what vitmins, minerals, and herbs are safe to use and whether they even help at all. Adding to the confusion: some popular assumptions about supplements and the implications of new research aren't always on the mark. So keep the following in mind when taking supplements or considering whether to add them to your self-care routine.

Salt Is No Friend to Heart or Head

Processed food is the single biggest source of salt in our diet.

When it comes to heart and vascular health, nearly everyone can benefit from eating less salt. Studies have long linked high salt diets to greater risk of high blood pressure, itself a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. But health experts aren’t sure whether salty diets increase risk of these diseases in people without high blood pressure, and in those not as sensitive to the hypertensive effects of too much salt. New research provides some insight.

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The study has an important weakness that should be taken into account: it was an observational study, which cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has received widespread publicity for reporting that the use of vitamin C supplements was associated with an increased risk of developing cataracts. But don’t throw away your vitamin C bottle as the new study does not prove that C caused this effect, and that result is inconsistent with previous research that suggests vitamin C either has no effect on cataract incidence or even decreases risk.

How do you make sense of supplements? With so much conflicting information in the news, it's hard to know what vitmins, minerals, and herbs are safe to use and whether they even help at all. Adding to the confusion: some popular assumptions about supplements and the implications of new research aren't always on the mark. So keep the following in mind when taking supplements or considering whether to add them to your self-care routine.

When it comes to heart and vascular health, nearly everyone can benefit from eating less salt. Studies have long linked high salt diets to greater risk of high blood pressure, itself a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. But health experts aren’t sure whether salty diets increase risk of these diseases in people without high blood pressure, and in those not as sensitive to the hypertensive effects of too much salt. New research provides some insight.